Improvement in hoisting apparatus



@eine tatr atwt @frn PHILIP HIGDON, 0F LEWISPORT, KENTUCKY.

' Laim Patent No. 70,565, dated November 5, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN HOISIING APPARATUS.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, PHILIP I-IIGDON, of L'ewisport, Hancock cunty, State of Kentucky, have invented a new and improved Hoisting Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled -in the art toy make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification. p

This apparatus is designed for use in warehouses and mercantile establishments generally, as well as inv 'the erection of buildings, and, infact, under all circumstances where mechanical agencies may be brought into requisition for supplying the requisite power to elevate goods, materials, etc.4

The invention consists in the employment of a rack, to which the elevating-ccrd or rope is attached, said rack traversing a vertical guide-way, and deriving its motion from a rotary shaft through the medium of a pinion and pulleys; the whole being constructed and arranged in such a manner as to facilitate the'work and conduce to convenience, compactness, and economy of available power.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hoisting'apparatus illustrating my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the same, showing the construction and mode of operating the sectional rack hereinafter referred to.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

In the drawings, A A represent the two uprigh'ts, which may be planted in a suitable base, and upon which is journalled thc sha'ft B. The shaft B is to be rotated by hand, by means of a rope passing over the large pulley C on one end of the shaft B. Any other means for rotating the shaft C may be employed; D is a. pulley mounted upon the opposite end of the shaft B, and driving the cord E through which motion is tra-nsmitted to the pulley F. '.lhe short shaft of the pulley F is supported in bearings fixed to the upright A1, 4and said shaft is provided with a pinion, G, which engages with the teeth of a rack, H. This rack (seewig. 2) is made of anumberofcogged-sections,,w'rreipprlggted together by'links, t, and the rack is fitted within a suitable guide-way in the upright A, which it traverses vertically when in operation. 'lhe pinion G has a diameter, very small (say four inches in a working machine) in comparison with that of the pulley F from which it derives motion, and hence the power applied to the rack II very greatly exceeds that which is first impart-ed to the shaft B to put the apparatus in motion. In accordance with the use for which the apparatus is intended, or the weight to bc lifted, the pinion Gis to be made proportionately smaller in diameter, in order to equalize capacity and duties. I is the elevating-rope, which is fastened to the upper end of therack H, and thence passed over pulleys J It', journalled respectively in the upright A and cross-bar or tic-beam A2. The rope I takes a. downward direction from the pulley K, is passednronnd the pulley L, and thence upward tothe shaft E, or to the hook a on the tie-beam A2, to either of which it may be made fast, according as speed or power may be the desideratum. The she-ave L muy be attached to the vertically-moving and guided sash M1, which carries a. hoisting-platform,l M, or said sheave may be held in a movable block or frame, having a hook for the attachment of that which is to be elevated. A weighted gravitating pawl, N, (one or morc,) taking into the teeth of the rack Il, serves to prevent the weight from descending during intervals of rest, or when the elevating power is withdrawn. To permit thc descent of the rack and hoisting-platform, the pawl N is withdrawn from the rack by means of the cordN.

By reference to fig. 2 of the drawing it will be seen that, when in the act of hoisting, the descending rack II is projected below thc upright A1A in which it is guided, its downwardly-projected portion is susceptible of tiexure, so that the sections L may, as fast as they pass out of or below A, be directed horizontally, as represented, or allowed tofold one upon thc other, or gather in a pile. Hence the rack H may be very long and capable of hoisting to great heights, and yet enable the frame to be built within compact and convenient compass. The flexible or sectional rack will be found especially advantageous when the apparatus is used in a cellar or lower apartment, where no provision for the descent of a rigid rack could be readily made.

The above-described apparatus supplies great power within a small compass, and is simple, cheap, and durable in construction. l I

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is The combination of the frame A Al A2, shaft Il, pulleys D F J K, pinion G, cords orropes E', rack H., either jointed or inflexible, and movable sheave L, allarranged land operating substantially as described 'lo the above spccication o f my improved hoisting apparatus I have signed my hand this 26th day of September, A. D. -1867,

, PHILIP HIGDON. Witnesses:

VJ. E. M. Bowan,

OCTAVIUS KNIGHT. 

